Something is brewing at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort — and Disney is not saying a word about it. Two new entries have appeared in the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District public permit database pointing to projects at BoardWalk, both targeting spaces that have been sitting empty for a while. The filings are listed as “Project Amazon” and “Project Bubbles,” and that is about all Disney is letting on right now.
Quick Summary
- Two mystery permit filings — “Project Amazon” and “Project Bubbles” — have appeared for Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
- Project Amazon targets the former Big River Grille space, vacant since January 2024
- Project Bubbles targets the former Promenade Fine Art Gallery, closed October 2025
- Jellyrolls closed April 2025 and is currently being gutted — no project name filed yet
- Three vacant spaces now sit in close proximity on the same promenade stretch
- Disney has made no official announcement about either project
Project Amazon: The Former Big River Grille Space
Project Amazon is listed at the former Big River Grille and Brewing Works location. Big River Grille closed at the end of January 2024 after a long run as one of BoardWalk’s signature dining spots. The space has been completely vacant ever since — over a year with nothing in it.
Disney had previously hinted at a new concept for the location but never made an official announcement. Now, with an active permit filing on the books, something is clearly in motion.
The former Big River Grille space already has a full commercial kitchen setup, which makes a food and beverage replacement the most logical outcome. Whether that is a new restaurant, a bar, or a lounge concept is still unknown.
Project Bubbles: The Former Fine Art Gallery
Project Bubbles is listed at the former Promenade Fine Art Gallery location, which closed in late October 2025. It is a smaller retail footprint compared to the Big River Grille space.
The name “Project Bubbles” at a formerly retail location invites some obvious speculation. A bath and body retail concept would be a natural fit. A champagne bar or sparkling wine lounge would also align well with the name and the BoardWalk setting.
Worth noting: project names in CFTOD permit filings are often deliberately vague or even misleading. Disney and other operators routinely use codenames that do not reflect the final concept. Take “Project Bubbles” as a clue, not a guarantee.
Jellyrolls Is Gone — and Still Unnamed
Adding to the picture: Jellyrolls, the beloved dueling piano bar that ran at BoardWalk for nearly three decades, closed in April 2025. The space is currently being gutted. There is no word on what replaces it, and it does not appear in any current CFTOD filings under a project name.
That puts three vacant spaces in very close proximity on the same stretch of the BoardWalk promenade. That is a significant amount of empty real estate on one of Walt Disney World’s most charming resort areas.
What Disney’s BoardWalk Needs Right Now
BoardWalk has felt noticeably quiet over the past year. The closures of Big River Grille, Jellyrolls, and the Promenade Fine Art Gallery have left gaps in the promenade experience that used to make BoardWalk worth a dedicated evening visit.
At its best, BoardWalk should feel like a destination — somewhere guests plan to spend time, not just a stretch of walkway between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Two active permit filings and a third space already being gutted suggests Disney is working to restore that energy.
What to Watch For Next
Permit filings in the CFTOD database typically appear weeks or months before any public announcement from Disney. The fact that both Project Amazon and Project Bubbles have names and locations attached suggests these are active projects rather than placeholder filings.
Disney has not said anything officially yet, and there are no construction walls visible at either location. But the filings are there — and that is how most changes at BoardWalk begin. We will keep watching and bring you updates as soon as Disney makes any announcement.